Albinos are probably the most
misunderstood, most maligned, and in some parts of Africa, the most hunted
people in the world. They have always been discriminated against for their
appearance. In Biblical times they were
forced to live with lepers in colonies because it was believed that both
disorders were a curse or a judgment from God for sin.
In Tanzania, 62 murders of Albinos have
been documented since 2008; 12 others have been exhumed from their graves. Most
of the victims are children. Why? Because of superstition,
ignorance and witchcraft, Albinos are believed to possess
supernatural powers, that Albinos never die, that they become
ghosts or zombies.
Children
are increasingly subject to murder or mutilation, even sold by their parents,
because of the myth that the harvesting of Albino
limbs, organs
and blood for lucky charms
will bring good fortune to such businesses as mining and fishing.
In Zimbabwe having sex with
a woman having albinism is believed to cure an HIV infected man. As a result, a
large number of Albino women are being raped and
thus, being infected by the HIV virus, in the name of a cure.
Albinos occur in all races,
and in all animal groups. It is
genetically inherited. Albinism occurs as a defect
in one of several genes that block the production
of melanin, a natural substance that gives color to the hair, skin and iris of
the eyes. Albinos are often depicted as blind-- another untruth. Hair and skin are usually very white; eyes from
pale blue to gray. In severe cases they may be pink or reddish.
Low vision causes
vulnerability to sun exposure and bright light. As a consequence Albinos can be vulnerable to
skin cancers if unprotected from the sun. Albinism has no effect
on mental development and does
not cause criminal
tendencies.
Accurate information on the
number of Albinos that
exist is hard to come by; it is
estimated that one out of every 17,000 people have some form of albinism.
Hollywood bigots
have capitalized on the spurious myths by producing, to date, 68 movies
stereotyping Albinos as evil and villainous characters--
anti-heroes. In the movie, The Da Vinci Code, Silas, a religious
fanatic and murderous assassin, is portrayed as an Albino. This Monster Mania is appearing in modern music as well.
Albinos animals and plants are
considered valuable assets; even in the wild these creatures will receive positive
attention from their own. Not so with the human race. Where
is the compassion and outrage over this overlooked minority?
The National
Organization for Albinism and Hypopigmentation
(NOAH) has spoken out against Albino bias in the United States. But
ignorance and misconceptions refuse to go away as long as people with albinism are treated as a valuable commodity..
NOTE: My novel Angel
of Tears deals with several forms of prejudice – albinism is one of them. I expose my readers to the wonderful traits of
Alva Watson, an albino.
